Professor Akwesi Kumi Kyereh of the Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast (UCC), has called for deliberate steps to promote comprehensive sexuality education among the youth.
This, he said, was important to aid them with relevant information to make the right decisions and suggested its incorporation into the school curriculum.
He noted that already some aspects of reproductive health were being taught in the schools but said that did not go far enough.
Prof Kyereh was addressing a youth forum held in Koforidua to celebrate the International Youth Day.
“The road to 2030: eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable production and consumption” was the theme chosen for the event.
The programme was organized by the National Youth Authority (NYA) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Prof Kyere said the need to sufficiently prepare the young people to face up to the challenges of real life situation should neither be underestimated nor overlooked.
Ms. Adjoe Nyanteng Yenyi, UNFPA’s National Programme Analyst, Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, said adults should not shy away from talking about sex with children.
She was, however, quick to indicate that the information shared should be age-appropriate, culturally sensitive and relevant at each stage of the child’s life.
She said the reality was that the present generation of children had become so much exposed to information about sex that this was creating a challenge.
Mr. Leonard Gobah, Head of Donor Compliance and Delivery, Marie Stopes Ghana, said everything should be done to give the young people the right direction because whatever habit they cultivated would affect their way of doing things in the future.
Mr. Ernest Amoako, Director at the NYA, said the Authority would continue to work hard to provide protection for the youth and guide them to lead responsible lives.
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